Miss Smith, (pictured), set out to galvanise businesses across the region behind Norwich For Jobs when she launched her campaign in January – and firms have now responded by pledging 500 jobs and apprentices.

News of the milestone being reached was broken yesterday to the campaign’s jubilant steering committee, which has been tirelessly reaching out to businesses as well as engaging young people and helping them improve their employability.

Miss Smith said: “This is a momentous milestone. We set out to get 1,000 young people into work and we have broken through with over 500 paid opportunities pledged as a result of this campaign.

“A big thank you to everyone who has pledged support and to the volunteers working so hard to make it a reality. I’m confident young people will snap these posts up – and we’ll go further.

“If you haven’t already pledged to be part of this successful community campaign, give it some thought. Look what we can achieve together. Local employers can find great talent by being part of this campaign.”

During its first nine months, Norwich For Jobs has won the formal backing of nearly 60 employers with dozens more indicating their interest. The campaign holds regular meetings of its young persons’ panel to support jobseekers and promotes its aims at community events, including this week’s Norfolk Chamber of Commerce’s B2B exhibition.

Dick Palmer, chief executive officer of City College Norwich, said: “500 is wonderful news for Norwich for Jobs. This makes us even more determined to see it through and achieve our goal – we’re halfway there.”

Nigel Pickover, editor of the EDP, which has supported the campaign from its launch, said: “It’s great that by working together as a community we are giving a bright future to so many young people.”

I am getting sick to death of this women appearing in virtually every local Archant paper, it's nearly every day and that's without her column in the EEN. Is it any wonder sales are dropping? As a lifelong reader of the EEN. they can now stick it, I want news, not pictures of Chloe Smith every flaming day.

This is spin and nonsense, yet again, so come on, come clean, just how many REAL long-term, full-time, properly-remunerated jobs have been created as a DIRECT result of this cynical PR stunt, the real purose of which is to con voters into supporting Chloe-darling?

How can you bring new skills into your business when staff turnover is low and money may be tight? SHAUN LOWTHORPE talks to the Future50 businesses swapping ideas as part of an informal work shadowing programme.